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1.
Israel
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Israel, officially the State of Israel, is a country in the Middle East, on the southeastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea and the northern shore of the Red Sea. The country contains geographically diverse features within its small area. Israels economy and technology center is Tel Aviv, while its seat of government and proclaimed capital is Jerusalem, in 1947, the United Nations adopted a Partition Plan for Mandatory Palestine recommending the creation of independent Arab and Jewish states and an internationalized Jerusalem. The plan was accepted by the Jewish Agency for Palestine, next year, the Jewish Agency declared the establishment of a Jewish state in Eretz Israel, to be known as the State of Israel. Israel has since fought several wars with neighboring Arab states, in the course of which it has occupied territories including the West Bank, Golan Heights and it extended its laws to the Golan Heights and East Jerusalem, but not the West Bank. Israels occupation of the Palestinian territories is the worlds longest military occupation in modern times, efforts to resolve the Israeli–Palestinian conflict have not resulted in peace. However, peace treaties between Israel and both Egypt and Jordan have successfully been signed, the population of Israel, as defined by the Israel Central Bureau of Statistics, was estimated in 2017 to be 8,671,100 people. It is the worlds only Jewish-majority state, with 74. 8% being designated as Jewish, the countrys second largest group of citizens are Arabs, at 20. 8%. The great majority of Israeli Arabs are Sunni Muslims, including significant numbers of semi-settled Negev Bedouins, other minorities include Arameans, Armenians, Assyrians, Black Hebrew Israelites, Circassians, Maronites and Samaritans. Israel also hosts a significant population of foreign workers and asylum seekers from Africa and Asia, including illegal migrants from Sudan, Eritrea. In its Basic Laws, Israel defines itself as a Jewish, Israel is a representative democracy with a parliamentary system, proportional representation and universal suffrage. The prime minister is head of government and the Knesset is the legislature, Israel is a developed country and an OECD member, with the 35th-largest economy in the world by nominal gross domestic product as of 2016. The country benefits from a skilled workforce and is among the most educated countries in the world with one of the highest percentage of its citizens holding a tertiary education degree. The country has the highest standard of living in the Middle East and the third highest in Asia, in the early weeks of independence, the government chose the term Israeli to denote a citizen of Israel, with the formal announcement made by Minister of Foreign Affairs Moshe Sharett. The names Land of Israel and Children of Israel have historically used to refer to the biblical Kingdom of Israel. The name Israel in these phrases refers to the patriarch Jacob who, jacobs twelve sons became the ancestors of the Israelites, also known as the Twelve Tribes of Israel or Children of Israel. The earliest known artifact to mention the word Israel as a collective is the Merneptah Stele of ancient Egypt. The area is known as the Holy Land, being holy for all Abrahamic religions including Judaism, Christianity, Islam

2.
Israeli Air Force
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The Israeli Air Force operates as the aerial warfare branch of the Israel Defense Forces. It was founded on May 28,1948, shortly after the Israeli Declaration of Independence, as of May 2012 Aluf Amir Eshel serves as the Air Force Commander. The Israeli Air Force formed on May 28,1948, using commandeered or donated civilian aircraft and obsolete, eventually, more aircraft were procured, including Boeing B-17s, Bristol Beaufighters, de Havilland Mosquitoes and P-51D Mustangs. The Israeli Air Force played an important part in Operation Kadesh, on June 5,1967, the first day of the Six-Day War, the Israeli Air Force executed Operation Focus, crippling the opposing Arab air forces and attaining air supremacy for the remainder of the war. Shortly after the end of the Six-Day War, Egypt initiated the War of Attrition, on October 7,1973, the IAF conducted Operation Tagar against Egyptian air bases of the Egyptian Air Defence Force. Although initially successful, with 10 bases hit, the urgency of the fighting on the Golan heights forced the operations suspension, since that war most of Israels military aircraft have been obtained from the United States. Among these are the F-4 Phantom II, A-4 Skyhawk, F-15 Eagle, the Israeli Air Force has also operated a number of domestically produced types such as the IAI Nesher, and later, the more advanced IAI Kfir. On June 7,1981, eight IAF F-16A fighters covered by six F-15A jets carried out Operation Opera to destroy the Iraqi nuclear facilities at Osiraq, on June 9,1982, the Israeli Air Force carried out Operation Mole Cricket 19, crippling the Syrian air defence array. The IAF continued to mount attacks on Hezbollah and PLO positions in south Lebanon, on October 1,1985, In response to a PLO terrorist attack which murdered three Israeli civilians in Cyprus, the Israeli air force carried out Operation Wooden Leg. The strike involved the bombing of PLO Headquarters in Tunis, by F-15 Eagles, in 1991, the IAF carried out Operation Solomon which brought Ethiopian Jews to Israel. In 1993 and 1996, the IAF participated in Operation Accountability and Operation Grapes of Wrath and it took part in many missions since, including during the 2006 Lebanon War, Operation Cast Lead, Operation Pillar of Cloud and Operation Protective Edge. On September 6,2007, the Israeli Air Force successfully bombed an alleged Syrian nuclear reactor in Operation Orchard, squadron markings usually go on the tail fin. Forerunners of the Israeli Air Force were the Palestine Flying Service established by the Irgun in 1937, and Sherut Avir, the Israeli Air Force formed on May 28,1948, shortly after Israel declared statehood and found itself under attack. The force consisted of a hodge-podge of commandeered or donated civilian aircraft converted to military use, a variety of obsolete and surplus ex-World War II combat-aircraft were quickly sourced by various means to supplement this fleet. Creativity and resourcefulness were the foundations of early Israeli military success in the air, Israels new fighter-arm first went into action on May 29,1948, assisting efforts to halt the Egyptian advance from Gaza northwards. Four newly arrived Avia S-199s, flown by Lou Lenart, Modi Alon, Ezer Weizman and Eddie Cohen, although damage to the enemy was minimal, two aircraft were lost and Cohen killed, nevertheless the attack achieved its goal and stopped the Egyptians. After un-assembled planes were strafed on the ground on May 30th at Ekron airfield the fighters were moved to makeshift strip located around the current Herzliya Airport. The Israeli Air Force scored its first aerial victories on June 3 when Modi Alon, flying Avia D.112, the first dogfight against enemy fighters took place a few days later, on June 8, when Gideon Lichtaman shot down an Egyptian Spitfire

3.
History of the Israeli Air Force
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The History of the Israel Air Force begins in May 1948, shortly after the formation of the State of Israel. Following Israels declaration of independence on May 14, its national institutions transformed into the agencies of a state, and on May 26,1948. Beginning with a collection of light aircraft, the force soon transformed into a comprehensive fighting force. It has since participated in wars and numerous engagements, becoming what has been described as The mightiest air force in the Middle East. Preceded by the Sherut Avir, the air wing of the Haganah, at first, it was assembled from a hodge-podge collection of civilian aircraft commandeered or donated and converted to military use. A variety of obsolete and surplus ex-World War II combat aircraft were quickly sourced by various means – both legal and illegal – to supplement this fleet, some spitfires were ferried from Žatec base code-named Zebra where pilots also received preliminary flight training, while others were transported by sea. Creativity and resourcefulness were the foundations of Israeli military success in the air. Many of the first IAFs pilots in 1948 were foreign volunteers and World War II veterans, the IAFs humble beginnings made its first air victories particularly impressive and noteworthy. Similarly the Air Transport Command begun its existence as the Panamanian registered Lineos Aeros de Panama Society Anonyme or LAPSA acquired C-46, of the 607 IAF servicemen who served in the IAF during the War of Independence, over 414 of them were volunteers from overseas. Israels new fighter arm first went into action on May 29,1948, four newly arrived Avia S-199s, flown by Lou Lenart, Modi Alon, Ezer Weizman and Eddie Cohen, struck Egyptian forces near Isdud. Although damage was minimal, two aircraft were lost and Cohen killed, the attack achieved its goal and the Egyptians stopped. The Avias were back in action on May 30, attacking Jordanian forces near Tulkarem, after un-assembled planes were strafed on the ground on May 30th at Ekron airfield the fighters were moved to makeshift strip located around the current Herzliya Airport. The Israeli Air Force scored its first aerial victories on June 3 when Modi Alon, flying Avia D.112, the first dogfight against enemy fighters took place a few days later, on June 8, when Gideon Lichtaman shot down an Egyptian Spitfire. During these initial operations, the squadron operated with a few planes versus almost complete Arab theater Air supremacy and the airplanes were parked dispersed between the orange trees. As the war progressed, more and more aircraft were procured, including Boeing B-17s, Bristol Beaufighters, de Havilland Mosquitoes and P-51D Mustangs, although the IAF had never secured complete aerial supremacy, by the end of the war it had proven decisive in the air. The war also saw the IAF clash with Britains Royal Air Force, during the summer and autumn of 1948 RAF photo-reconnaissance De Havilland Mosquitos of No.13 Squadron RAF flew routine reconnaissance overflights over Israel. These high-altitude flights remained unchallenged until Israel acquired the Mustang, on November 20,1948 one such reconnaissance aircraft was spotted over the Galilee and was shot down by Wayne Peake, crashing in the Mediterranean off Ashdod. The IAF and RAF clashed again on January 7,1949, during Operation Horev, the Israeli Air Force played an important part in Operation Kadesh, Israels part in the 1956 Suez Crisis

4.
Israeli Air Force flight academy
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The Israeli Air Force Flight Academy trains aircrew to operate Israeli Air Force aircraft, qualifying fighter, helicopter and transport pilots as well as combat and transport navigators. The IAF flight course is considered one of the most prestigious courses in the IDF and it lasts for three years and is held largely in the Hatzerim Airbase near Beer Sheva. Graduates of the course receive the rank of lieutenant and a BA from the Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, after their training, the graduates must undertake mandatory military service of nine years. On average, only one out of nine students completes the course successfully, the first IAF flight course was completed in March 1949 in Hatzor Airbase. The first four graduates, including Mordechai Hod and Danny Shapira, had received their training in Czechoslovakia, in May 194912 more graduates completed the second IAF flight course, which also took place mostly in Czechoslovakia. The first flight course held entirely in Israel was held at Camp Sirkin, near Petah Tikva, most of the flight instructors at the time were foreign and the official language of the course was English. The course ended on 10 August 1950 and had 13 pilot graduates, in order to prepare them as fighter pilots, in December 1950 a separate operational training squadron was established, flying the Supermarine Spitfire. Until 1955 the flight took place at the Sirkin Airbase. In April 1966 the IAF flight course was transferred more to Hatzerim Airbase. With the increasing need for pilots, in 1965 a helicopter flight school was established within the IAF flight school. Until then all the pilots were trained in Europe and the United States. In 2002 the structure of the course changed, it was extended from two years to three years, and included undergraduate academic studies. In addition, since 2002 the flight course graduates receive the rank of lieutenant, the selection process for IAF pilots can be traced to Ezer Weizman, widely considered the architect of the modern Israeli Air Force, and his aim of recruiting only the best for pilots. His reasoning was that the skill and bravery of the forces would be for naught if they could be attacked at will from the air. Those who meet these and other criteria are invited to participate in a six-day gibush, a selection phase involving physical, mental, as many as 50% percent of those who commence the gibush will be dropped from further consideration at its conclusion. Those who pass the gibush embark on a journey to earn their wings, which includes extensive flight training, infantry training, an officers course. The prospective pilots are evaluated constantly, and the vast majority of those who begin flight training do not make it through the full program and those expelled from the course will either remain in the air force in a non-flying capacity, or transfer to an army unit. While in flying school, future pilots are sorted and assigned to train on different types of aircraft, relatively few become fighter pilots, while the remainder learn to fly helicopters, transport aircraft, or train as navigators

5.
Unit 669
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669 is the Israel Defense Forces heliborne Combat Search & Rescue extraction unit, subordinate to the Special Air Forces Command of the Israeli Air Force. It is considered one of the IDFs premier elite units, Combat and support-staff jobs are multi-ethnic, and non-combat jobs are coed. Unit 669 was founded in 1974, in the aftermath of the 1973 Yom Kippur War and its initial mandate was to extract and provide initial medical treatment to downed pilots beyond enemy lines. The Units logo is a winged, slinking, green-eyed, black cat, the Units warriors are subsequently sometimes referred to as Cats or Flying Cats. Their training and selection lasts 18 months and is considered to be among the most physically and psychologically demanding of the IDF, a typical rescue team from 669 consists of a mix of 669 specialized warfighters and doctors. The unit itself is composed of three branches, Extraction, the extraction branch has a company of advanced and specialized infantrymen. The evacuation branch has a company of airborne doctors, paramedics and these medical personnel are critical to the mission by bringing advanced and specialized medical knowledge and experience to the injured, both in the field and in the air on the way to the hospital. The largest branch, the support group is composed of non-combat soldiers who assist in logistics for the unit. 669 is the IDFs primary rescue unit, the mandate of the unit is to rescue downed pilots and execute airborne medical evacuation of critical casualties. Due to the specialties and high proficiency of 669, the unit may also accept various other special operations missions depending on the needs of the Air Force. Unit 669 has been credited with hundreds of rescues, some of the more high profile missions are listed below. On September 15,1997, the Shayetet 13 Naval Commandos sent a team to conduct a raid in Lebanon. The team encountered an improvised explosive device and was ambushed by Hezbollah in what has subsequently called the Ansariya Ambush. 13 of the commandos were killed and 3 were injured. Unit 669 responded by sending a team to evacuate the injured commando team, for bravery and performance under fire the 669 team received a formal citation. In 2003,669 rescued ten Turkish seamen when they were caught in a storm in the Mediterranean Sea. Under these severe weather and sea conditions, the 669 soldiers rescued and evacuated the sailors from their ship at sea, during the Second Lebanon War and Operation Cast Lead, Unit 669 made dozens of high profile rescues of injured soldiers under enemy fire. During the 2014 military campaign Protective Edge,669 evacuated hundreds of casualties and these rescues, often under fire, earned the unit a formal citation award from the Chief of Staff of the IDF

6.
Israeli Air Force Museum
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The Israeli Air Force Museum is located at Hatzerim Airbase in the Negev desert. The museum was established in 1977 and has open to the public since 1991. The museum displays a variety of Israeli Air Force and foreign aircraft, aerospatiale Gazelle - Former Syrian aircraft, captured 1982. 69355 MiG-15 - former Polish aircraft, bearing Egyptian livery, miG-17 MiG-21 - #007, liveried as Operation Diamond aircraft MiG-21 - #339, two seat variant, acquired 2011 from IAI via Romania. MiG-23 - Former Syrian aircraft, defected 1989, bristol Beaufighter - remains of Israeli aircraft shot down 1948, retrieved 1994

7.
Sde Dov Airport
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Sde Dov Airport, also known as Dov Hoz Airport is an airport located in Tel Aviv, Israel which mainly handles scheduled domestic flights to Eilat and Uvda, northern Israel, and the Golan Heights. It is the largest airport in Tel Aviv proper, and the second largest in the area, the airport is named after Dov Hoz, one of the pioneers of Jewish aviation. The airport is expected to close by the end of 2018 after an agreement was struck re-purposing the land which houses it for residential apartments, commercial flights will move to Ben Gurion Airport. The airport is a city for Arkia Israel Airlines and Israir Airlines. Works began on a plot of land north of the Yarkon River, Tel Aviv and when completed in October 1938, in 1940, the airports name was changed to Sde Dov, in memory of Dov Hoz, one of the pioneers of Jewish aviation. In the 1948 Arab-Israeli War, the served as a base to the Israeli Air Force. It was a base, home to 21 aircraft at the time. The first military flight was made in December,1947, when Pinchas Ben Porat flew an RWD-13 to Beit Eshel to rescue an injured soldier. Following the 1948 war the Arab orchards to the east of Tel Aviv were opened for development, the airport regained its commercial operations, initially serving domestic flights, mostly to single customers, on Piper Cub aircraft. It later expanded operations to scheduled service on aircraft to various parts of Israel. As a result of the availability, an additional, north–south. By 1960, land in Tel Aviv became scarce, and the municipality demanded that the airport be relocated northward and this option, however, was blocked by the Israel Defense Forces. The government set up a committee in 1968 who suggested that the old east–west runway be closed. They suggested that this is replaced by a new runway in the sea, the runway was closed, and a high density upper-middle income neighborhood was built to the east of the airport, although the new runway was never constructed due to the high cost involved. As the new residential area suffered from noise, residents joined in the demand that the airport be relocated. Once again, the only feasible alternative proposed at this point was to build a runway in the sea and again and this was a large issue in the area during the whole of the 1980s. This brought the issue of relocation back to light, despite this, however, in 1997, Sde Dov was declared an International Airport for private flights. The issue remained unresolved until late 2006 when it was announced that the airport would be vacated to make way for residential redevelopment, initially the plan was to relocate the entire airport onto an artificial island to be built offshore

8.
Israeli Air Defense Command
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The Israeli Air Defense Command is the Israel Defense Forces unit responsible for the surface front of Israels air defense, complementing the air defense provided by Israeli Air Force squadrons. Initially a part of the IDF Artillery Corps, the Air Defense Command has been subordinate to the Israeli Air Force since 1970, during the 1948 Arab–Israeli War, the Air Defense Network was part of the Artillery Corps, primarily relying on machine guns. During the 1960s,40 mm radar-guided anti-aircraft guns were introduced, the latter were absorbed in the Air Forces surface-to-air units. In the 1970s, the entire Air Defense Network was merged with the Air Force, MIM-23 Hawk, a medium-range radar-guided surface-to-air missile and longest serving system, it is also the networks most victorious. The current model in use by Israel has been upgraded to improve its capabilities. MIM-104 Patriot, a high to medium air defense medium tactical air defense platform capable of downing aircraft, Israels Patriot missile systems have been technologically upgraded since entering service. Capable of downing of any kind of advanced tactical ballistic missiles, advanced cruise missiles, large-caliber rockets, UAV, UCAV, iron Dome, a short-range air defense system designed to defend against rockets, artillery shells, and precision-guided munitions. The first battery became operational in May 2010, iron Beam, a laser defense system designed for use against short-range rockets and mortars, as well as UAVs. Although it is part of the Air Force, the command is structured in a way similar to the Artillery Corps. The current commander is Brigadier-General Shahar Sochat, who is subordinate to the commander of the Air Force

9.
Tel Nof Airbase
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Tel Nof Israeli Air Force, also known as Air Force Base 8, is one of three principal airbases of the Israeli Air Force. Tel Nof is located near Rehovot, Israel, Tel Nof was founded in July 1939 during the British Mandate as RAF Aqir and served as the main Royal Air Force station in Palestine. From the 1948 Arab-Israeli War until 1950 it was known as Ekron Airfield, today Tel Nof houses several fighter and helicopter squadrons. Several special units of the Israel Defense Forces are also located here, including Unit 669, Tel Nof housed the IAF flight academy until April 1966 when it was moved to Hatzerim Airbase. In June 2011, it was reported that eight American jet engines for F-15, paratrooper Training Center Operational units of the Royal Air Force stationed at RAF Aqir from 1941 to 1948. 76 OTU, despite operating Wellingtons, were working up crews for B-24 Liberators. After completion of their course those crews were passed on to Liberator conversion units

10.
Haifa Airport
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Haifa International Airport, also known as U Michaeli Airport is a small international airport located in Haifa, Israel. It is located to the east of the city, close to Kishon Port and Israel Shipyards and mainly serves civilian flights, most passenger flights utilizing the airport are domestic operations to Eilat and Tel Aviv. The airport is named after Uri Michaeli, one of the pioneers of Jewish aviation, the airport has one short runway,1,318 metres in length, and there are plans to extend it onto reclaimed land in the Gulf of Haifa. Haifa Airport was established by the British Mandate in 1934, as its first international airport, originally serving the British Army, in 1936 passenger services to Beirut and Cyprus were opened, and in 1938 a regular route to Italy commenced. RAF Haifa was a Royal Air Force station in Mandatory Palestine between 1942 and 1948, Haifa Airport had been established in 1934, as the first international airport in Mandatory Palestine, originally serving the British Army and the Iraqi-British oil company, APS. In 1940 civil flights were stopped due to the Second World War, the RAF station closed in 1948 and the airport re-opened as Haifa Airport. This was followed ten years later by Arkia Israel Airlines flights and it wasnt until 1994, however, that the airport received international status, and at this time, it was planned that the airport would serve flights to destinations across Europe. Less than a later, the airport was placed for sale. At this time, great interest in the site was shown by the French construction group and these expected services never really took off however, and it wasnt until 1996, and the start of Israir flights, that the airport grew. This growth was increased in 1998 with Aeroel service. Royal Wings increased route offerings once again with flights from Jordan, in 1998, a new terminal was opened at the airport to cater for all of the services needed in a modern international airport. In the past there were three takeoff and landing runways in the airport, of only two still exist, and only one is currently in use. In 2001, talk over expanding the airport restarted when then Finance Minister,2007 saw the first rise in passenger numbers and aircraft movements since 2002 with an increase of 25% in passenger numbers and a 7% increase in aircraft movements over the previous year. In general, between the point of its operation in 1999 and 2007 passenger number have fallen by 50%. Aircraft movements have decreased from 2002 to 2007 by 34%, the Israel Airports Authority intends to extend the runway to 1, 634m by the middle of the 2010s decade. List of Royal Air Force stations Media related to Haifa Airport at Wikimedia Commons Official website Accident history for HFA at Aviation Safety Network